Dear all,
I have a confession to make. Sometimes when I look at the genealogies in the Torah, my eyes glaze over. There are just so many names!
But then I think about our uniquel scroll (pictured above) designed specifically for Temple Akiba by renowned artist, Mordechai Rosenstein. We keep the scroll in our Ark along with our Torahs. Every person who becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzvah signs it, as they are part of a living legacy that connects past and future.
All these names – whether from the Torah or from our community – they are reminders that each person matters:
Each person does incredible things.
Each person leaves a soul-print.
Each person has a story to tell.
Each person can enable another to smile.
Each person needs a hug at times.
Each person has a divine spark of eternal goodness.
If you ever wonder what your legacy will be, take a moment in time to remember: you matter – and your presence has the potential to transform the world.
With love and shalom,
Rabbi Zach Shapiro
